Pedestal base



Nov. 22, 1966 R. F. MCMAHAN, JR., ETAL 3,286,964

PEDESTAL BASE Filed Oct. 14, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS Nov. 22, 1966 R. F. MCMAHAN, JR., ETAL 3,286,964

PEDESTAL BASE Filed Oct. 14, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent O 3,286,964 PEDESTAL BASE Roy F. McMahan, Jr., Harrods Creek, and Robert J.

Botkn, Louisville, Ky., assgnors to American Metal Products Company, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Filed Oct. 14, 1965, Ser. No. 495,794 21 Claims. (Cl. 24S-188.7)

This invention relates to a pedestal base of the type suitable for supporting furniture and Ithe like and, more specifically, to a pedestal base including at least one leg member having a mid-portion and irst and second ends with a bow shape between the ends, support means disposed on the leg member and adapted -to be connected to a piece of furniture, and clamp means opera-tively connected to the support means and engaging the leg member for preventing the straightening of the bow shape of the leg member as forces are applied thereto through Ithe support means.

Pedestal bases of lthe instant type are utilized for supporting chairs, desks, benches, tables and other types of furniture. Such pedestals normally utilize at least one leg member which is disposed substantially transversely of a support member which interconnects .the leg member and the piece of [furniture -to be supported. The leg member contacts, or is adapted to contact, lthe floor or other support struct-ure at .the ends thereof and is attached to the support structure at lthe mid-portion thereof. The leg member normally -has a bow shape upwardly toward the midaportion thereof from the respective ends thereof. The bow shape of Ithe leg member allows -the leg member to contact the floor only at fthe respective ends thereof and provides an attractive leg member. Such leg members are frequently made of bar stock which is of a dimension sufficient to provide the necessary strength for supporting the pieces of furniture with which 'the pedestal base is to be utilized.

The utilization of such bar stock in fabricating the leg members offers little versatility in the design of the pedestal and is expensive. Versatility in the design off leg members made of Ibar stock is limited due to 'the fact that the shapes of the leg members cannot be widely varied because of the limitations in shaping solid pieces of bar stock. The utililization of bar stock to fabricate such leg members is expensive because the =bar stock is solid and includes a large amount of metal in each individual leg member, In order ,to reduce the amount of metal required in a leg member and to provide leg members of various Y attractive designs, metal plates may be tor-med into various configurations to form leg members having various cross sections to provide an attractive appearance. Leg members thus formed of a minimum 'of metal material, however, do not always have the requisite strength characteristics required of leg members utilized in pedestals of the instant type, although such leg members thus formed may be of various attractive designs. That is to say, leg members made of a minimum of metal material frequently have insuliicient strength characteristics due to the fact that in some envinonrnents suflcient loads are applied to the leg member Ito straighten or rem-ove the bow shape from the leg member, thus causing the leg member 'to lose its attractive configuration and preventing the leg member from resting evenly on 'the door.

Accordingly, it is an object and feature of the instant invention to provide a pedestal utlizing one or more leg members comprising a minimum amount of material and an attractive configuration to support a piece of furniture through support means disposed on the leg members and including clamp means interconnecting the support means and the leg members for preventing the straightening of the 3,286,964 Patented Nov. 22, 1966 ICC bow shape `from the leg members as forces are applied thereto through the support means.

Another object and feature of the instant invention isv to provide a pedestal base having atleast one bow-shaped leg member with support means disposed on the leg member and adapted to be connected -t-o a piece of [furniture with the leg member having a cross section which includes interconnecting diverging sides at least at the midaportion thereof and clamp means interconnecting the support means and the divenging sides of the leg member -to apply forces to the sides -of the leg member for preventing the sides from :moving together to prevent the removal of the bow shape from the leg member as forces are applied thereto through the support means.

In general, these and other objects may be attained in a pedestal base including at least one leg member having a bow shape between the ends thereof and having a cross section which, at least at the midaportion thereof, is V-s'haped and increases in size from each respective end toward the mid-portion of the leg member. A hollow tubular member having a pair of V-shaped notches engages the leg member so that the leg member is disposed in the V-shape'd notches at one end of the hollow tubular member. A support :pla-te is disposed across the 'other end of the hollow tubular member and is adapted to be attached -to a piece of furniture to be supported by the leg member. Force applying means engages the respective sides of the leg member t-o apply forces thereto to prevent the sides from moving together for preventing the removal of the blow shape from the leg member as the forces are applied thereto through Ithe hol-low tubular member. A pair of tie rods are ldisposed within the hollow tubular member with each tie rod threadedly secured at a rst end thereof to the support plate and with a second end thereof extending through the force applying means. A fastening means is disposed on the second ends of -the `tie rods for placing the tie rods in tension to clamp the hollow tubular member and the leg member between the support plate and the force applying means.

Other objects and attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood :by reference to the [following detailed ydescription when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an exploded perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the instant invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlanged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken substantially along line 3 3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is an enlanged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken substantially along line 4-4 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken substantially along line 5-5 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a-n enlarged perspective view of the force applying means utilized in the preferred embodiment of the instant invention; and

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of a table utilizing a pedestal base constructed in accordance with the instant invention.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like numerals indicate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, there is generally shown at 10 a pedestal base which is suitable for supporting furniture, such as the table illustrated in FIGURE 7 or the piece of furniture 12 indicated in phantom in FIGURE 2.

A first leg member, generally shown at 14, has rst and second ends 16 with Ia Ibow shape between the ends 16. The ends 16 of the leg member 14 are adapted to contact a support structure such as a floor, preferably through the members 18-18. The leg member 14 includes a mid-portion, generally shown at 20, which is disposed above the oorwhen the ends 16 thereof are disposed upon the floor due to the bow shape of the leg least at the midportions 20 and 30 thereof, which includes interconnected diverging sides 32 and 34, and 36 and 38, respectively. Preferably, the cross section of each of the respective leg members 14 and Z4 forms a V shape which increases in size from each of the respective first and second ends to the respective mid-portions thereof. The leg members 14 and 24 include respective complementary notches 40 and 42 whereby the first leg member 14 is disposed'in crossed relationship with the second leg member 24 so that each of the leg members 14 and 24 is disposed in the notch of the other leg member. rPhat is to say, the first leg member 14 is disposed in the notch 42 of the second leg member 24 and the second leg member 24 is disposed in the notch 40 of the first leg member 14.

A support means, generally shown at 44, is adapted to be connected to a piece of furniture to be supported by Y the leg members 14 and 124 and is disposed on the leg members 14 and 24 so that the second leg member 24 is interlocked between the iirst leg member 14 and the support means 44. The support ymeans 44 includes a hollow tubular member 46, =a support plate 4S, and clamp means, generally shown at 5U. The hollow tubular member 46 has two pairs of V-shaped notches 51 in a first end thereof so that each of the leg members 14 and 24 is disposed in one pair of the notches 51. The support plate 48 is disposed across the other end of the hollow tubular member 46 and is adapted by its configuration and the screws 52 to be attached to the piece of furniture to be supported by the le-g members 14 and 24. The clamp means 50 is operatively connected to the support plate 48 of the support means 44 and engages the leg mem-bers 14 and 24 for preventing the straightening of the bow shape of the leg members 14 and 24 as forces are applied thereto through the hollow tubular member 46 of the support means 44.

The clamp means 50 includes wedge means, generally indicated at 54, and tension means comprising the tie rods 55. The wedge means 54 is best illustrated in FIGURE 6 and includes a first force applying means 56 which engages the sides 36 and 38 of the leg member 24 in the notch 42 thereof, as best seen in FIGURE 4.V The first force applying means 56 applies forces to the sides 36 and 38 in the notch 42 for preventing the sides 36 and 38 from moving together to prevent the removal of the bow shape of the leg member 24 as forces are applied thereto through the hollow tubular member` 46 of the support means 44. That is to say, the first force applying means 56 engages the lower extremity of the sides 36 and 38 in the notch 42, as illustrated in FIG- URE 4, to apply an upward force on the sides 36 and 38 to prevent the sides 36 and 38 from moving together. The distance between the diverging sides 36 and 38 is greater at the mid-portion 30 of the tleg member 24 than at the respective ends 26 thereof so that when forces are applied to the leg member 24 tending to straighten or remove the bow shape therefrom, the sides 36 and 38 'tend to move together at the mid-portion 30 thereof as the leg member 24 is straightened; however, by applying sufcient upward forces to the sides 36 and 38 in the notch 42 thereof, lthe bow shape will Vremain unimpaired since the sides 36 and 38 will be prevented from moving together.

The wedge means 54 Lalso inclu-des a second force applying means comprising a pair of wings 58 with anges 60 thereon for engaging the respective extremities of the sides 32 and 34 of the leg member 14 to apply forces thereto for preventing the sides 32 and 34 from moving toget-her to prevent the removal of the bow shape of the leg member 14 as forces are applied thereto through the hollow tubular member 46. That is to say, the respective flanges 60 engage the lower extremities of the `sides 32 Vi and 34 of the leg member 14 to apply Iupward forces thereto, as viewed in FIGURE 5, so that the sides 32 and 3-4 are prevented from moving together to retain the bow shape in Vt-he .leg member 14 in the event excessiveforces are applied thereto through the tubular member 46. As in the case of the leg member 24, the leg member 14 has sides 32 and 34 which have extremities which .are farther apart at the mid-portion 20 than at the ends 16 thereof so that in the event forces are applied to the leg member 14 tending t-o remove the bow shape therefrom, the extremities'of the sides 32 and 34 at the midportion 20 are urged toward one another. By apply` ing sulicient forces with the wings S8 and flanges 60 to the extremities of the sides-32 and 34, therefore, thel bow shape of the'leg member is retained unimpaired.

The Wedge means 54 also includes positioning .means comprising the triangular-.shaped members 62 `disposed at each end of the first force applying means 56 to engage the leg ymember 14 for preventing bending movement 0f the ends of the first force applying means 56 as forces are applied thereto. That is yto say, the triangular-shaped members 62 engage the sides 32 and 34 of t-he leg member 14 for preventing the ends of the first force` apply-` ing means 56 from bending upward, as viewed in FIG- URE 4, about the lower extremities of the sides 36 and 38 in the notch 42 of the leg member 24. In engaging the sides 32 and 34, the triangular-shaped'members 62 L may contact thesurfaces of the respective sides 32 and 34, or the apexof the triangular-shaped members 62. may contact the inward apex or joint between the :sides 32 and 34.

The tension means comprising the tie rods 55 interconnects the first force applying means 56 andthe support plate 48 for urging the first force applying means 56 and the second force applying means, comprising the wings 58 and flanges 60, against the respective leg memvbers 14 and 24. The tie rods 55 are disposedwithin the hollow tubular member 46 so that each tie rod is` threadedly secured at a first end `thereof to the support` plate 48 in the threaded bores 64 and so that the second end of each tie rod S5 extends through a hole 69 in the first leg member 14 and a hole 66 in the first force applying means 56 so that the fastening means comprising the nuts 68 may be disposed on the second ends of the tie rods for placing the tie rods 5S in tensiontorclamp the hollow tubular member 46 and the leg members 14` and 24 between the support plate 48 and the wedge means 54.

Although the invention has been illustrated in FIG-` URES 1 through 6 as utilizing crossed leg members 14 and 24, respectively, the invention may also be rutilized with a single leg member, such as the leg members 70 illustrated in FIGURE 7, which supports a hollow tubular member 72 upon which a table -top 74, or another piece of furniture, is supported. The assembly illust-rated `in` FIGURE 7 differs from that illustrated in FIGURES `1 through 6 only in `that theleg members 70 are not crossed and only one leg member 70 is associated with each re spective hollow tubular member 72. Preferably, a cross-V bar or brace 76 interconnects the leg members 70.

It is also to be understood that the wedge means 54 1 may be of `many configurations and may be comprised of separate parts rather than being an integral member as t illustrated.

The invention has been described in an illustrative man,- t

ner and it is to be understood that the terminology which has been used is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation.

Obviously, many modifications` and variations of the presen-t invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed 'are delined as follows:

. 1. A pedestal base of the type suitable for supporting furniture and the like comprising: a leg member having a mid-portion and irst and second ends with a bow shape between said ends thereof; support means disposed on said leg member and adapted t be connected to a piece of furniture to be supported by said leg member; and clamp means'ope'ratively connected to said support means and engaging said leg member for preventing the straightening of said bow shape of said leg member as forces are applied thereto through said support means.

2. A pedestal base of the type set forth in claim 1 wherein said leg member has a cross section, at least at the mid-portion thereof, which includes interconnected diverging sides, and said clamp means includes force applying means engaging said sides of said leg member to apply forces thereto for preventing said sides from moving together to prevent the removal of said bow shape from said leg member as forces are applied thereto through said support means.

3. A pedestal of the type set forth in claim 2 wherein said support means includes a hollow member having a pair of notches in a first end thereof with said leg member disposed in said notches, and a support plate disposed acr-oss the second end of said hollow member, said plate being adapted to be attached to a piece of furniture to be suppored by said leg member.

4. A pedestal of the type set forth in claim 3 wherein said clamp means includes tension means operatively interconnecting said force applying means and said support plate for urging said force applying means against said leg member.

5. A pedestal of the type set forth in claim 4 whe-rein said tension means includes a pair of tie rods disposed within said hollow member with each tie rod threadedly secured at a first end thereof to said support plate and extending through said force applying means at the second end thereof, and fastening means disposed on the respective second ends of said tie rods for placing said tie rods in tension to clamp said hollow member and said leg member between said support plate and said force applying means.

6. A pedestal base of the type set forth in claim 5 wherein said diverging sides of said leg members form a V shape.

7. A pedestal of the type set forth in claim 6 wherein said V-shaped cross section of said leg member increases in size from the respective ends of said leg member to said mid-portion thereof.

8. A pedestal base of the type suitable for supporting furniture and the like comprising: a first leg member having a mid-portion and first and second ends with a bow shape between said ends thereof; a second leg member having a mid-portion and lirst and second ends with a bow shape between said ends thereof; support means adapted to be connected to a piece of furniture and disposed on said leg members so that said second leg member is interlocked between said rst leg member and said support means; and clamp means operatively connected to said support means for preventing the removal of said bow shapes and the consequent straightening of said leg members as forces are applied thereto through said support means.

9. A pedestal base of the type set forth in claim 8 wherein each of said leg members has a cross section, at least at said mid-portion thereof, which includes interconnected diverging sides, and said first and second leg members having respective complementary notches with said Iirst leg member disposed in crossed relationship with Asaid secondrleg member so that each of said leg members is disposed in the notch of the other leg member.

10. A pedestal base of the type set forth in claim 9 wherein said clamp means includes force applying means engaging said sides of said .first leg member to apply forces thereto for preventing said sides of said tirst leg member from moving together to prevent the removal of said bow shape from said `first leg member as forces are applied thereto through said support means.

11. A pedestal base of the type set forth in claim 9 wherein said clamp means includes an elongated first force applying means engaging said sides of said second leg member in the notch thereof to apply forces thereto for preventing said sides of said second leg member from moving together to prevent the removal of said bow shape of said second leg member as forces are applied thereto through said support means.

12. A pedestal base of the type set forth in claim 11 including second force applying means engaging the respeotive extremities of said sides of said first leg member to apply forces thereto for preventing said sides of said first leg member from moving together to prevent the removal of said bow shape of said -irst leg member as forces are applied thereto through said support means.

13. A pedestal base of the type set forth in claim 12 wherein said tirst force applying means is an elongated member and said second force applying means includes a pair of wings extending from said elongated member with lianges on said wings for engaging the respective extremities of said sides of said first leg member.

14. A pedestal base of the type set forth in claim 13 including positioning means at each end of said elongated member for engaging said irst leg member for preventing bending movement of said ends of said elongated member about said sides of said second leg member.

15. A pedestal base of the type set forth in claim 14 wherein said diverging sides of said first and second leg members form a V-shaped cross section in each of said leg members which increases in size from the respective ends of said leg members to the respective mid-portions thereof.

16. A base pedestal of the type set forth in claim 15 wherein said positioning means includes a triangularshaped member disposed at each end of said elongated member for engaging said sides of said first leg member.

17. A base pedestal of the type set forth in claim 16 wherein said support means includes a hollow member having two pairs of V-shaped notches in a rst end thereof with each of said leg members disposed in one of said two pair of notches, and a support plate disposed across the second end of said hollow member, said support plate being adapted to be attached to a piece of furniture to be supported by said leg members.

18. A pedestal base of the type set forth in claim 17 wherein said clamp means includes tension means operatively interconnecting said force applying means and said support plate for urging said force applying means toward said support plate.'

19. A pedestal base of the type set forth in claim 18 wherein said tension means includes a pair of tie rods disposed within said hollow member with each tie rod threadedly secured at a first end thereof to said support plate and with each tie rod extending through said first force applying means at the second end thereof, and fastening means disposed on the respective second ends of said tie rods for placing said tie rods in -tensiongto clamp said hollow member and said leg members between said support plate and said force applying means.

20. A pedestal base of the type for supporting furniture and the like comprising: a Iirst leg member having a mid-portion and first and second ends with a bow shape between said ends, support means adapted to be connected to a piece of furniture and disposed on said leg member, said leg member having a cross section, at least at the mid-portion thereof, which includes interconnected diverging sides, means for preventing movement of said leg member is increased.

21. A pedestal base as set forth in claim 20 including a second leg member having a mid-portion and first and second ends with a bow shape between `said ends thereof; said second leg member being interlocked between said rst leg member and said support means, said second leg member also having a cross section at least at the midportion thereof, which includes interconnected diverging sides, said means for preventing movement interconnects said sides of saidV rst and second leg members for preventing the sides of each respective leg member from moving together as forces are applied thereto whereby the strength of said leg members is increased.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,694,617 12/1928 Brown 248-188] 1,783,661 12/ 1930 Makoski et al 10S-147 2,256,677 9/1941 Jones 248-188] 2,482,979 9/ 1949 Isakson 248-188] 3,062,494 11/ 1962 French 248-158 CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner. 

1. A PEDESTAL BASE OF THE TYPE SUITABLE FOR SUPPORTING FURNITURE AND THE LIKE COMPRISING: A LEG MEMBER HAVING A MID-PORTION AND FIRST AND SECOND ENDS WITH A BOW SHAPE BETWEEN SAID ENDS THEREOF, SUPPORT MEAS DISPOSED ON SAID LEG MEMBER AND ADAPTED TO BE CONNECTED TO A PIECE OF FURNITURE TO BE SUPPORTED BY SAID LEG MEMBER; AND CLAMP MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID SUPPORT MEANS AND ENGAGING SAID LEG MEMBER FOR PREVENTING THE STRAIGHTENING OF SAID BOW SHAPE OF SAID LEG MEMBER AS FORCES ARE APPLIED THERETO THROUGH SAID SUPPORT MEANS. 